Santarus adds contract reps to back Uceris intro

Increasing sales have spurred Santarus to expand its detailing presence. The company announced during Monday's earnings call that it was going to add 25 reps to its field force, after closing a quarter in which sales rose 90%, to $89.4 million compared to $47.2 million for the second quarter in 2012. Sales at the six-month mark were $168.8 million, compared to $93.1 million for the first six months of last year.

Monday's announcement marks the firm's second sales-force expansion this year. The company added 85 reps during the first quarter to support the launch of its ulcerative colitis drug Uceris. The launch began in the middle of February, and the company noted in its earnings release that more than 3,500 doctors have prescribed the drug at least once as of the end of June.

The new hires will bring the Santarus sales force to 260. The company tells MM&M that these reps, like all of its reps, will come from InVentiv Health, and will front the company's portfolio of products, meaning GI drugs Uceris and Zegerid, diabetes medications Glumetza and Cycloset and high-cholesterol drug Fenoglide.

The company expects all 25 new reps to be in place by then end of the year.